Via the Comments on Edward Winkleman’s Blog

Following artnet’s A Not So Right Winged Conspiracy by Charlie Finch, who complains that bloggers take the fun out of reviewing for “real critics” such as himself, the online company’s marketing department sent out advertising requests to selected bloggers. This according to blogger and artist J.T. Kirkland, who posted the letter in Edward Winkleman‘s comments today. Winkleman confirms this report explaining that several website owners (exluding myself), received a letter similar to this:

Dear J.T.,

My name is ________ and I'm the Marketing Assistant at artnet.com.

As admirers of Thinking About Art here at artnet, we are interested in perhaps advertising on your blog. If you accept ads and are interested in our offer, I would appreciate it if you could send me a rate card when you have a chance.

Here's a little info about artnet: artnet.com is the world's premier internet resource for buying, selling, and researching fine art, decorative art and 20th century design. We offer an overview of art for sale in international galleries and auction houses and assist clients in making informed purchase decisions by providing information about artists, their galleries, the value of their work, the history of their prices, exhibitions, reviews and daily news.

I have additionally attached our media kit to this e-mail for your convenience if you would like to know more about us.

I suppose it’s too much to request a solicitation read;

I know our staff writer Charlie Finch just wrote an awfully nasty piece about all you guys, but we’d still like to capitalize on your readership, even if we don’t respect what you do.